According to Jim McNay, Brooks Institute of Photography, the author is after the qualities one needs to hunt out good feature photographs. LaBelle distinguishes what he calls the inherent qualities and the learned characteristics needed by the hunter with a camera, and the sacrifices required along the way to put these elements into practice.
All this is presented in bite sized bits. The sign of a great teacher is someone who can break a complex subject down so it is understandable to the new learner. With this volume, photographers can read a page a day and then do go work using that day's principle as they hit the streets.
LaBelle writes about hunter qualities so photographers have new insight in what they can do next to go make a picture. And he does not just stick to the single picture. He digs into the subjects of picture stories and photo essays, as well.
The author reminds photographers that making good pictures is not just about the mechanics of photography. "The great photojournalists, "Labelle says, "are not in love with the mechanics of photography - they are in love with people and with life. Photography is the brush they use to paint the world as they see it."
This book quickly became the "bible" of photojournalism.
